Over one-third (39%) of Australia's unemployed were aged between 15 and 24, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Half (50%) of unemployed people aged 15-19 were seeking full-time work compared with over three-quarters (76%) of unemployed people of all ages.

The main difficulty in gaining employment for unemployed people aged 15-24 was insufficient work experience (18%). Other difficulties experienced were no vacancies at all (15% of those aged 15-19 and 10% of those aged 20-24) and lacked the necessary skills/education (11% and 13%).

Of the 613,000 unemployed people aged 15 and over in July 2001, the main difficulties in finding work were:

considered too young or too old by employers (12%);

too many applicants for available jobs (12%);

insufficient work experience (12%); and

no vacancies at all (11%).

Three-quarters (75%) of unemployed people in search of a full-time job were registered with Centrelink compared to only one-fifth (22%) of unemployed people in search of a part-time job.

Almost one-quarter (24%) of all unemployed people had been unemployed for one year or more (ie. were 'long-term unemployed'). Most of these people (89%) were seeking full-time work, and the majority (90%) had not received any job offers in the previous 12 months. One-fifth of long-term unemployed people reported that being considered too young or too old was the main barrier to finding employment.

Of the 613,000 unemployed persons, three-quarters (75%) had highest educational qualifications at Year 12 level or below. Persons whose highest qualification was Year 10 or below had been unemployed for an average of 64 weeks compared to 31 weeks for those holding a Bachelor degree or above.

Further details can be found in Job Search Experience of Unemployed Persons, Australia, July 2001(cat. no. 6222.0).